Dear Peterborough.
I grew up in the part of South Western Ontario where small towns are wedged between soft cornfields and ocean-like great lakes. I lived and worked for six weeks in a quaint Northern town with just one store where four year olds wondered alone quite safely because everyone knew each other. I have visited and lived in towns so small that people know that you're a visitor. I have seen majestic rivers bordered by large rolling hills. I have visited multicultural urban cities and crumbling historical sites, but the place that I call home, the place where my heart is happiest, is just a boring old mid sized city situated on either side of a skinny dirty river.
But Peterborough, you are so much more than that to me.
Many others say you're too small to be interesting and too big to be quaint, but I know better.
I've walked past your pub patios on Friday nights in the summer time and heard the poetic mix of music and laughter that is night life done right and I've walked past little shops and cafes and bumped into friends on every corner in a way that makes you seem just about as quaint as can be.
And I know there are places with beauty that is more fit for a post card than yours is, because I've seen them. But Peterborough, you know I don't like my poetry in a can. I don't care much for beauty that anyone can see in just a second. I like to search for my beauty. You make it easy to find, but not too easy. I like that about you.
I love how you offer quiet country and forests within the bustle of a city.
I love your zoo, your river, your bridges, your market, your food not bombs, your hilly views, but most of all, dear dear Peterborough, I love your people.
When I stop to wonder why I love you so, that is biggest reason.
You are the first place I ever really and truly felt at home.
Thank you.
I miss you, but don't you worry. I will return.
Laurissa.
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Saturday, 8 June 2013
For times when you sort of kind of just hate yourself
I have noticed that one of the biggest mountains that get in the way in my own personal fight for joy is that of self hatred. I am constantly reminded of all my faults and mistakes when I look at myself where it is usually at least a little easier to see the good in others or forgive their bad aspects. I am always comparing myself to others and also to this perfect person who exists only in my head. Also, every little bit of criticism from other people goes straight to my heart whether this is noticeable or not.
I know I am not alone in this. What I want to talk about is not the problem but the solution. I often hear people say that everyone is wonderful and beautiful and we all just need to love ourselves and love each other. This bothers me because I know the truth. I know the horror that people are capable of and I know the dark rooms of my own heart. I don't think the solution is just to see the good and ignore the bad. That could lead to a horrible world where the evil in us all is allowed free rein because everyone ignores it and we never deal with it.
There are people who say that criticism shouldn't get you down but should be taken as advice and mistakes should be lessons for self improvement. I have met people like this and you know what? Their spirits are often not very calm because they live their lives trying to do better and be better and it doesn't calm the storms of self hatred in their mind, it spurs them on and makes them bigger.
My favourite way to tackle this problem is expressed well by the poetic Mr. John Green: "the only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive." This matches up with Christianity doesn't it? After all Jesus doesn't say do better and be better or I don't know you. He offers forgiveness no matter what your life is like. Yes he offers a slow and beautiful transformation, but hey do you really want to keep being all the parts of you that aren't that great? Nah, sanctification is a glorious thing, but it isn't what gives us forgiveness and love, those are just given free of charge to those who believe. If the religion is based on forgiveness why not let it be a way of life? I could be wrong but I think that the best way to deal with self hatred is to forgive yourself. You got problems. You are not 100% beautiful inside and out, you have issues. Issues you can't erase just by waking up and trying harder to do better. BUT if the maker of the universe is a forgiver, why not forgive yourself? Yes embrace the process of sanctification. I don't want to be this mess forever, but its a slow process and in the mean time I'm learning to forgive myself and remember that Jesus loves me not because I'm an awesome possum aardvark, but because He is.
Unfortunately forgiveness is easier said then done. It is hard to forgive yourself when people are always pointing out your flaws and expecting you to fix them. The world doesn't operate on forgiveness but on this weird attempted system of fairness. "You get what you deserve." Which makes no sense because we all actually deserve a lot less than you might think. I wouldn't want to get what I deserve. When you realise that you might not actually want what you deserve it is a little easier to give to others the forgiveness they don't deserve and when someone else forgives you it is a little easier to forgive yourself, so lets all try to be forgiving people, but I mean we'll have to learn to forgive those who don't forgive. Oh life, it's confusing.
Also I have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm just thinking out loud, so I'm sorry if I make no sense.
I know I am not alone in this. What I want to talk about is not the problem but the solution. I often hear people say that everyone is wonderful and beautiful and we all just need to love ourselves and love each other. This bothers me because I know the truth. I know the horror that people are capable of and I know the dark rooms of my own heart. I don't think the solution is just to see the good and ignore the bad. That could lead to a horrible world where the evil in us all is allowed free rein because everyone ignores it and we never deal with it.
There are people who say that criticism shouldn't get you down but should be taken as advice and mistakes should be lessons for self improvement. I have met people like this and you know what? Their spirits are often not very calm because they live their lives trying to do better and be better and it doesn't calm the storms of self hatred in their mind, it spurs them on and makes them bigger.
My favourite way to tackle this problem is expressed well by the poetic Mr. John Green: "the only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive." This matches up with Christianity doesn't it? After all Jesus doesn't say do better and be better or I don't know you. He offers forgiveness no matter what your life is like. Yes he offers a slow and beautiful transformation, but hey do you really want to keep being all the parts of you that aren't that great? Nah, sanctification is a glorious thing, but it isn't what gives us forgiveness and love, those are just given free of charge to those who believe. If the religion is based on forgiveness why not let it be a way of life? I could be wrong but I think that the best way to deal with self hatred is to forgive yourself. You got problems. You are not 100% beautiful inside and out, you have issues. Issues you can't erase just by waking up and trying harder to do better. BUT if the maker of the universe is a forgiver, why not forgive yourself? Yes embrace the process of sanctification. I don't want to be this mess forever, but its a slow process and in the mean time I'm learning to forgive myself and remember that Jesus loves me not because I'm an awesome possum aardvark, but because He is.
Unfortunately forgiveness is easier said then done. It is hard to forgive yourself when people are always pointing out your flaws and expecting you to fix them. The world doesn't operate on forgiveness but on this weird attempted system of fairness. "You get what you deserve." Which makes no sense because we all actually deserve a lot less than you might think. I wouldn't want to get what I deserve. When you realise that you might not actually want what you deserve it is a little easier to give to others the forgiveness they don't deserve and when someone else forgives you it is a little easier to forgive yourself, so lets all try to be forgiving people, but I mean we'll have to learn to forgive those who don't forgive. Oh life, it's confusing.
Also I have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm just thinking out loud, so I'm sorry if I make no sense.
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Thoughts of a tourist.
As my feet carried me deeper into Vieux Quebec, my heart stretched come a balloon expanding to store up the poetry. Stone was everywhere. It made up the buildings and the narrow roads, it was old and textured come a chest for guarding all the moments of the past. Standing there, surrounded by history it seemed I could reach out and truly know the ways of before. I felt as though a novel would just spill out of my heart if I stood long enough with my hand on those walls and my feet on the streets.
All I wanted to do was walk des rues with my heart wide open letting the beauty run in and then sit in a café writing to let the creativity spill out. When I walked I wanted to wander blind, just going wherever the poetry led. I ended up wandering seul beaucoup parce que les autres seemed to have a lot of plans and I didn't want to bother with a map or group discussions, although I did sometimes. I was happiest when "marche suite à mon Coeur."
The one thing that did bother me was how capitalistic and touristy Vieux Quebec has become. There are a few nice artisan shops and cafes, but there is a lot of tacky stores and even some chain fast food joints. I suppose that is just the way of our world these days, and it is poetic in its own right. The fact that this big wide world has become so interconnected is kind of beautiful. There is something to be said for being able to eat in the same restaurant anywhere in the world even if it is just McDonalds. Just being able to be a tourist is a beautiful privilege. Years ago I would never have the luxury to see another person's far away daily surroundings, now there is a whole industry supporting my desire to do so.
Tourism is interesting. All this stress to find what your looking for only to eat the food you always do and buy souvenirs that may have just been made in china. I would rather just find the poetry in a boring not well known small town than do all that, but I do like tourism when I have the option to do it my way, like this weekend when I just wandered around following my heart.
Another interesting phenomenon is that of pictures. I don't have a camera, so when everyone else is running around taking photos (like in Quebec city or on the mountain top a couple weekends ago) I just sit back and watch. I wonder if there is something to be said for getting to know people through taking pictures with them and for making mementos to remember the people who touched your lives and the places that touched your heart. I would kind of like to have something to show my mother, although I don't think anyone else would be interested. Therefore, there is a jealous part of my heart when the cameras come out, but there is another inner voice that says how lovely it is to just enjoy the moment instead of spending the whole moment trying to save the moment forever. Moments don't last you know. Adventures like this teach you that. You make friends, you fall in love with places, you collect beautiful moments, but then they are over and you can either try to hold on to them with pictures and stay in touch through Facebook and email, or you can accept that sometimes the beauty is in the fleetingness of it all and sometimes Dr. Seuss is right and we really just need to smile because it happened instead of crying because it is over. There is probably a time and place for both.
All I wanted to do was walk des rues with my heart wide open letting the beauty run in and then sit in a café writing to let the creativity spill out. When I walked I wanted to wander blind, just going wherever the poetry led. I ended up wandering seul beaucoup parce que les autres seemed to have a lot of plans and I didn't want to bother with a map or group discussions, although I did sometimes. I was happiest when "marche suite à mon Coeur."
The one thing that did bother me was how capitalistic and touristy Vieux Quebec has become. There are a few nice artisan shops and cafes, but there is a lot of tacky stores and even some chain fast food joints. I suppose that is just the way of our world these days, and it is poetic in its own right. The fact that this big wide world has become so interconnected is kind of beautiful. There is something to be said for being able to eat in the same restaurant anywhere in the world even if it is just McDonalds. Just being able to be a tourist is a beautiful privilege. Years ago I would never have the luxury to see another person's far away daily surroundings, now there is a whole industry supporting my desire to do so.
Tourism is interesting. All this stress to find what your looking for only to eat the food you always do and buy souvenirs that may have just been made in china. I would rather just find the poetry in a boring not well known small town than do all that, but I do like tourism when I have the option to do it my way, like this weekend when I just wandered around following my heart.
Another interesting phenomenon is that of pictures. I don't have a camera, so when everyone else is running around taking photos (like in Quebec city or on the mountain top a couple weekends ago) I just sit back and watch. I wonder if there is something to be said for getting to know people through taking pictures with them and for making mementos to remember the people who touched your lives and the places that touched your heart. I would kind of like to have something to show my mother, although I don't think anyone else would be interested. Therefore, there is a jealous part of my heart when the cameras come out, but there is another inner voice that says how lovely it is to just enjoy the moment instead of spending the whole moment trying to save the moment forever. Moments don't last you know. Adventures like this teach you that. You make friends, you fall in love with places, you collect beautiful moments, but then they are over and you can either try to hold on to them with pictures and stay in touch through Facebook and email, or you can accept that sometimes the beauty is in the fleetingness of it all and sometimes Dr. Seuss is right and we really just need to smile because it happened instead of crying because it is over. There is probably a time and place for both.
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Rainy Days Make Me Write Poem - Ish Thinger Ma Bobbers, Quebec, why you no have sunshine?
To the inmost part of my being I say:
Won't you remember by whom you were made?
Each morning, when I open my eyes,
I want to remember the Lord
And all He has done for me.
Oh my mind and my heart,
Why do you still doubt?
Have not you tasted the goodness of God?
Have not you see the truth of His love?
Oh mind of mine,
Why do you focus so on mere mirages?
Oh heart of mine,
Please remember your true love.
Oh Lord please renew my life,
Make me as the storms and the sun:
A poem proclaiming Your majesty
And a vessel of Your love.
Won't you remember by whom you were made?
Each morning, when I open my eyes,
I want to remember the Lord
And all He has done for me.
Oh my mind and my heart,
Why do you still doubt?
Have not you tasted the goodness of God?
Have not you see the truth of His love?
Oh mind of mine,
Why do you focus so on mere mirages?
Oh heart of mine,
Please remember your true love.
Oh Lord please renew my life,
Make me as the storms and the sun:
A poem proclaiming Your majesty
And a vessel of Your love.
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Marriage.
Ok this is a very awkward post for me to write, but yah know what? I don't care. So here is the thing, I am a 21 year old single woman and it feels like everyone around me is getting engaged, married, or pregnant. I know it sounds so lame to say it straight out like that. That is why I only normally talk about this stuff with my closest friends. I am a very open person, but this is one thing that I lie about with most people. "Oh everyone's getting married, that's lame, I'm going to have adventures and love the world on my own, I don't need a husband." And it's true I don't, all I NEED is Jesus, but I think it's fairly natural to desire marriage. I don't really understand marriage. It's embarrassing to admit but I'm a very slow person. It takes me a very long time to understand things and love still confuses the potatoes out of me. Therefore, I am completely content with being single for the moment as I grow in my faith and my understanding of...well...everything. That part isn't a lie. However, being a human being, I get this worry that I'm doing things horribly wrong as I watch what feels like everyone I know go off and do all the normal things of getting a job, a husband, a house, and a baby while I still feel like a confused adolescent.
I remember laughing at my sister's wedding. My sister and my brother in law were crying and half of everyone assembled was crying too and I was standing in the back just chuckling to myself...my brother in-law's cousin gave me one odd look. The reason for my laughter was this: my sister is two years older than me, and in the past what my sister did (learn to read, learn to ride a bike, go to high-school, go to university) I usually did anywhere from 1-3 years later. Well two years later and I'm not even dating anyone let alone engaged or married and at the time I knew that would be the case and it wasn't so much that I was upset by that fact but just bewildered by how my sister could be so grown up with a husband and a real job and now a little baby growing in her belly and here I am and I still feel so young and lost and confused and it felt funny to me. It felt like my sister was still a little girl pretending to be a grown up. It reminded me of the one time when I was very young that I pretended to marry a cat. My sister pretended to be the minister and I carried the cat down the aisle (an ally-way beside my house) in a basket and then kissed him on the nose and then the cat jumped out of the basket and ran away. :P At my sister's wedding, I felt like there was no way she could be a real adult because I didn't feel anywhere close to being an adult so it felt like another game to me and I laughed.
Now I'm starting to realise that my sister isn't playing a game. This is legit, my friends and family are becoming grown ups and two years later I STILL feel like a child. It feels like everyone is growing up. My sister and her best friend from way back both got married in the past few years. Eight friends of mine from high school are engaged or married, and six friends of mine from university are engaged or married who were not engaged/married when I met them. When I write out the numbers like that it isn't really that many people, just 16, but it feels like a lot when it is all happening at the same time. It doesn't really bother me that this stuff isn't happening to me right now because I truly and actually am content with my life right now, that part of what I say to people isn't a lie. The lie is when I say I want this moment to last forever and I never want to live the 'normal' life because I hate boxes and I'm all for being unique. To be 100 % honest (and this is really hard for me in this area) I see nothing wrong with having a family. A family isn't a box, a family is a beautiful thing. I don't think people need to get married and have kids, but I also don't think there is anything wrong with doing so. The only reason I say that I don't want one is because I honestly am afraid that there is something wrong or different about me and that I will never have a family. I feel incapable of growing up and so I'm trying to cover up whatever is wrong with me and just say that I'm different and unique and I'm not going to grow up the same way as everyone else, which could very well be true, or perhaps I'm just going to grow up slower. I have absolutely no idea, but the point is this: I shouldn't have to lie about what goes on inside my mind. I shouldn't have to be ashamed either of my desire for a family or the fact that my life looks different from many of those around me. Both of these things are perfectly normal and natural and I'm not the only person experiencing them. This is why I'm writing this. Because I KNOW there are other folks like me out there. I feel really embarrassed to write this but I don't think I should have to and that's why I am doing it. I want you to know that you aren't alone.
I also think that it is ok to be different. Maybe I am never going to get married and that's fine too, and I honestly am content with not being married in this moment, in this moment I don't want to be married. I would like to be married in the future and for some strange reason I am ashamed of this desire, probably because I'm worried that I will never get married and that if that is the case it is somehow wrong of me to want to get married, but here's the thing, how am I supposed to know what is going to happen in the future? If I get married, sweet, if I don't, sweet. Either way there will be mountains and valleys and I will lean on God to get through them and learn how to let Him work through me wherever I am and whoever I'm with and whatever I'm doing. The future is the future and it will be ok one way or another or it won't and that's ok too. But for the moment, as happy as I am with the way things are I have desires for the future. And if my desires don't come to pass that is ok, I hope I will come to desire what I have. BUT I don't think I should have to be ashamed of having a specific desire for the future, I can't help it, its just a desire, and if it doesn't come to past it doesn't come to past who cares I'll cross that bridge later. I also don't think I should have to be ashamed of being different. Obviously I'm not going to be one of those people who marries super duper young, and you know what that's ok. Why should I be ashamed of this? That's just silly. I am who I am and you are who you are, we are all unique. It sounds lame like a kindergarten class but its really true.
Ok, well that's all I have to say. It was long I'm sorry. It was also really hard for me, and I'm really embarrassed to write about this, but I feel like it's good to be honest and just say it like it is because I know there are other folks out there thinking the same thoughts. If you think this was dumb and I'm the stupidest person you've ever met I really am sorry. I am a little stupid, I told you I'm still a dumb teenager basically, but I'm trying to grow up I swear.
I remember laughing at my sister's wedding. My sister and my brother in law were crying and half of everyone assembled was crying too and I was standing in the back just chuckling to myself...my brother in-law's cousin gave me one odd look. The reason for my laughter was this: my sister is two years older than me, and in the past what my sister did (learn to read, learn to ride a bike, go to high-school, go to university) I usually did anywhere from 1-3 years later. Well two years later and I'm not even dating anyone let alone engaged or married and at the time I knew that would be the case and it wasn't so much that I was upset by that fact but just bewildered by how my sister could be so grown up with a husband and a real job and now a little baby growing in her belly and here I am and I still feel so young and lost and confused and it felt funny to me. It felt like my sister was still a little girl pretending to be a grown up. It reminded me of the one time when I was very young that I pretended to marry a cat. My sister pretended to be the minister and I carried the cat down the aisle (an ally-way beside my house) in a basket and then kissed him on the nose and then the cat jumped out of the basket and ran away. :P At my sister's wedding, I felt like there was no way she could be a real adult because I didn't feel anywhere close to being an adult so it felt like another game to me and I laughed.
Now I'm starting to realise that my sister isn't playing a game. This is legit, my friends and family are becoming grown ups and two years later I STILL feel like a child. It feels like everyone is growing up. My sister and her best friend from way back both got married in the past few years. Eight friends of mine from high school are engaged or married, and six friends of mine from university are engaged or married who were not engaged/married when I met them. When I write out the numbers like that it isn't really that many people, just 16, but it feels like a lot when it is all happening at the same time. It doesn't really bother me that this stuff isn't happening to me right now because I truly and actually am content with my life right now, that part of what I say to people isn't a lie. The lie is when I say I want this moment to last forever and I never want to live the 'normal' life because I hate boxes and I'm all for being unique. To be 100 % honest (and this is really hard for me in this area) I see nothing wrong with having a family. A family isn't a box, a family is a beautiful thing. I don't think people need to get married and have kids, but I also don't think there is anything wrong with doing so. The only reason I say that I don't want one is because I honestly am afraid that there is something wrong or different about me and that I will never have a family. I feel incapable of growing up and so I'm trying to cover up whatever is wrong with me and just say that I'm different and unique and I'm not going to grow up the same way as everyone else, which could very well be true, or perhaps I'm just going to grow up slower. I have absolutely no idea, but the point is this: I shouldn't have to lie about what goes on inside my mind. I shouldn't have to be ashamed either of my desire for a family or the fact that my life looks different from many of those around me. Both of these things are perfectly normal and natural and I'm not the only person experiencing them. This is why I'm writing this. Because I KNOW there are other folks like me out there. I feel really embarrassed to write this but I don't think I should have to and that's why I am doing it. I want you to know that you aren't alone.
I also think that it is ok to be different. Maybe I am never going to get married and that's fine too, and I honestly am content with not being married in this moment, in this moment I don't want to be married. I would like to be married in the future and for some strange reason I am ashamed of this desire, probably because I'm worried that I will never get married and that if that is the case it is somehow wrong of me to want to get married, but here's the thing, how am I supposed to know what is going to happen in the future? If I get married, sweet, if I don't, sweet. Either way there will be mountains and valleys and I will lean on God to get through them and learn how to let Him work through me wherever I am and whoever I'm with and whatever I'm doing. The future is the future and it will be ok one way or another or it won't and that's ok too. But for the moment, as happy as I am with the way things are I have desires for the future. And if my desires don't come to pass that is ok, I hope I will come to desire what I have. BUT I don't think I should have to be ashamed of having a specific desire for the future, I can't help it, its just a desire, and if it doesn't come to past it doesn't come to past who cares I'll cross that bridge later. I also don't think I should have to be ashamed of being different. Obviously I'm not going to be one of those people who marries super duper young, and you know what that's ok. Why should I be ashamed of this? That's just silly. I am who I am and you are who you are, we are all unique. It sounds lame like a kindergarten class but its really true.
Ok, well that's all I have to say. It was long I'm sorry. It was also really hard for me, and I'm really embarrassed to write about this, but I feel like it's good to be honest and just say it like it is because I know there are other folks out there thinking the same thoughts. If you think this was dumb and I'm the stupidest person you've ever met I really am sorry. I am a little stupid, I told you I'm still a dumb teenager basically, but I'm trying to grow up I swear.
Friday, 24 May 2013
How to Survive French Immersion For Begginners
Step One: have a sense of humour. Laughter needs no translation, and everything is easier if you don't take it too seriously.
Step Two: Perfect your "I-have-no-idea-what-your-saying-but-I'm-a-lovely-person-so-don't-be-mad-at-me-for-not-understanding-you" smile.
Step Three: Get good at miming stuff.
Step Four: Watch peoples facial expressions to figure out what kind of response they want from you.
Step Five: Learn how to shut up and listen, this will be helpful for many other aspects of your life as well.
Final Step/Step Six: Learn a couple key and useful phrases like...
1. How do you say (English word) in French?
Comment dit-on (mot Anglais) en Francais?
2. How do you say (French word) in English?
Qu'est-ce que vous dites (mot Français) en Anglais?
3. What is this?
C'est quoi ça?
4. Can you speak more slowly.
Pouvez - vous parles plus lentement.
5. Can you repeat?
Pouvez-vous repeater
6. Can you help me? (Can I help you?)
Est-ce que tu peaux aider (Est-ce que je peaux aider)
7. I don't understand. (I understand)
Je ne comprends pas (Je comprend)
8. I don't know. (I know)
Je ne sais pas (Je sais)
9. How do you spell/write it?
Comment ca secrit (there are accents in this one that I can't manage to add sorry)
10. Good day I am called (name), I am from (place), and I study (subject) at (university) in (city).
Bonjour, je m'appelle (nom), je suis originaire de (lieu), et J'étudie (sujet) à (université) à (ville).
10. What is your name?
Comment t'appelles - tu?
12. How are you?
Comment Ca(an accent on the Ca I think)Va?
13. It goes well
Ca Va Bien
14. And you?
Et toi?
15. Have a good day.
Bonne journée
16. Goodbye.
au revoir
Step Two: Perfect your "I-have-no-idea-what-your-saying-but-I'm-a-lovely-person-so-don't-be-mad-at-me-for-not-understanding-you" smile.
Step Three: Get good at miming stuff.
Step Four: Watch peoples facial expressions to figure out what kind of response they want from you.
Step Five: Learn how to shut up and listen, this will be helpful for many other aspects of your life as well.
Final Step/Step Six: Learn a couple key and useful phrases like...
1. How do you say (English word) in French?
Comment dit-on (mot Anglais) en Francais?
2. How do you say (French word) in English?
Qu'est-ce que vous dites (mot Français) en Anglais?
3. What is this?
C'est quoi ça?
4. Can you speak more slowly.
Pouvez - vous parles plus lentement.
5. Can you repeat?
Pouvez-vous repeater
6. Can you help me? (Can I help you?)
Est-ce que tu peaux aider (Est-ce que je peaux aider)
7. I don't understand. (I understand)
Je ne comprends pas (Je comprend)
8. I don't know. (I know)
Je ne sais pas (Je sais)
9. How do you spell/write it?
Comment ca secrit (there are accents in this one that I can't manage to add sorry)
10. Good day I am called (name), I am from (place), and I study (subject) at (university) in (city).
Bonjour, je m'appelle (nom), je suis originaire de (lieu), et J'étudie (sujet) à (université) à (ville).
10. What is your name?
Comment t'appelles - tu?
12. How are you?
Comment Ca(an accent on the Ca I think)Va?
13. It goes well
Ca Va Bien
14. And you?
Et toi?
15. Have a good day.
Bonne journée
16. Goodbye.
au revoir
Thursday, 23 May 2013
An Open Letter to Hardworking Christians
(Note: this isn't meant as a "oh let me tell you" I am writing it as a letter for artistic reasons but, in actuality, I'm just thinking out loud about life in general)
Dear hardworking Christian,
So it is the end of another long day.
A difficult day of work, school, volunteering, job hunting, cooking, cleaning...
Whatever it was that you did, I know how much effort you put into it.
Don't think I haven't noticed how hard you have been working, because I have.
No matter how hard you are trying to do it in the shadow -
For the glory of God rather than honour or praise.
I also know how hard you tried to walk in His ways today.
I saw the fist clench and unclench,
Heard the below the breath count to ten.
I know you would have liked to swing a punch,
But you refrained.
Now in this quiet moment,
As you bight back the complaints,
Do up the dishes and dream of sleep,
I have something to say to you.
I see the tenseness in your shoulders,
I see the weight that you are carrying,
A weight of guilt
And of worry
That you won't fulfill your responsibility.
In this moment, this small and quiet moment,
I want to remind you of the Grace in which you believe.
And I want to ask you some questions
And remind you of your reasons.
Why did you respect your customers, co-workers clients, boss, classmates or teacher?
Why did you feed the hungry?
Why did you carry your share of responsibility?
Why did you refrain from swinging that punch?
Why did you bight back the complaint?
Why do you do anything?
What motivates your life?
Is it not the love and grace and mercy of the Lord?
As you look back on your day and despair the anger, frustration, impatience, and discontent in your heart,
Maybe you have set your mind to doing better tomorrow,
Maybe your sliding closer to giving up.
Let me remind you that you will never be good enough,
But let me remind you that you are forgiven,
Let me remind you that you are loved.
And this life that you are daily living?
It is not a dutiful march.
One who is better than you will ever be
Took on all that you deserve.
Now your life is not a striving
To earn a better end,
Your life is a dance of thanks,
But thank-you dances
Can't be danced
By ungrateful wretches,
You need to remember
For what it is that you are grateful.
Please take a moment to remember the grace an love you have been given, and to rest in it.
Yes God is molding you
Teaching you to be his hands and feet
As you grow in love for others,
But let go of the guilt for the love you have not given,
Let go of the stress for the love you need to give,
And just take five minutes to remember
The love YOU have ALREADY BEEN given.
With love from another tired soul.
(NOTE: Maybe this is bogus nonsense, I'm sorry)
Dear hardworking Christian,
So it is the end of another long day.
A difficult day of work, school, volunteering, job hunting, cooking, cleaning...
Whatever it was that you did, I know how much effort you put into it.
Don't think I haven't noticed how hard you have been working, because I have.
No matter how hard you are trying to do it in the shadow -
For the glory of God rather than honour or praise.
I also know how hard you tried to walk in His ways today.
I saw the fist clench and unclench,
Heard the below the breath count to ten.
I know you would have liked to swing a punch,
But you refrained.
Now in this quiet moment,
As you bight back the complaints,
Do up the dishes and dream of sleep,
I have something to say to you.
I see the tenseness in your shoulders,
I see the weight that you are carrying,
A weight of guilt
And of worry
That you won't fulfill your responsibility.
In this moment, this small and quiet moment,
I want to remind you of the Grace in which you believe.
And I want to ask you some questions
And remind you of your reasons.
Why did you respect your customers, co-workers clients, boss, classmates or teacher?
Why did you feed the hungry?
Why did you carry your share of responsibility?
Why did you refrain from swinging that punch?
Why did you bight back the complaint?
Why do you do anything?
What motivates your life?
Is it not the love and grace and mercy of the Lord?
As you look back on your day and despair the anger, frustration, impatience, and discontent in your heart,
Maybe you have set your mind to doing better tomorrow,
Maybe your sliding closer to giving up.
Let me remind you that you will never be good enough,
But let me remind you that you are forgiven,
Let me remind you that you are loved.
And this life that you are daily living?
It is not a dutiful march.
One who is better than you will ever be
Took on all that you deserve.
Now your life is not a striving
To earn a better end,
Your life is a dance of thanks,
But thank-you dances
Can't be danced
By ungrateful wretches,
You need to remember
For what it is that you are grateful.
Please take a moment to remember the grace an love you have been given, and to rest in it.
Yes God is molding you
Teaching you to be his hands and feet
As you grow in love for others,
But let go of the guilt for the love you have not given,
Let go of the stress for the love you need to give,
And just take five minutes to remember
The love YOU have ALREADY BEEN given.
With love from another tired soul.
(NOTE: Maybe this is bogus nonsense, I'm sorry)
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